At a critical point of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns quarterback was not on the field. While the exact reason remains unclear, this incident underscores a larger issue: what is the organization’s plan moving forward, especially regarding the quarterback position?
With uncertainty about the future, the franchise faces questions about its direction as one analyst demands answers.
NFL Analyst Chastises Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski for Delaying Shedeur Sanders’ QB1 Role
With 63 seconds left, Sanders connected with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. on a seven-yard score, cutting the Titans’ lead to 31-29. Needing a two-point conversion, Cleveland prepared for a critical play, only Sanders, after 62 snaps, was now on the sidelines. Cleveland ran a Wildcat formation, which the Titans quickly diagnosed and stopped.
The central question emerged: why did Coach Stefanski fail to play Sanders for the majority of the season? Cleveland radio host Tony Grossi made this the focal point of his sharp criticism.
“Shedeur looked great. It’s clear that all he needs is more game experience. Let him play the games. I believe they should have started him earlier this year. The leadership and poise he shows on the field are significant. He compared favorably to Cam Ward. The throw to Njoku stood out as an exceptional play.”
Tony Rizzo added his 2 cents on the whole Sanders situation and said, “All I know is they should have had this kid in from the beginning of the year.”
“All I know is they should have had this kid in from the beginning of the year” – Rizz on Shedeur Sanders.
Do you agree? https://t.co/L4i1gStcyo pic.twitter.com/z5ODXok2Ft
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 8, 2025
When Sanders entered camp, three other quarterbacks were on the roster. The team traded Ken Pickett to the Raiders and Joe Flacco to the Bengals, leaving fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel to start in their place. After an injury, Sanders stepped up and has continued to play.
His 52.1% completion rate may not be impressive, but understanding the challenges of Cleveland’s offensive line is essential. Opponents have sacked the team’s starting quarterbacks 35 times in 13 games. Cleveland ranks 31st in PFSN’s Offensive Line metric, which measures how well a line functions in various situations. As Rizzo noted, Sanders displays accuracy at all three levels.
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Throughout the summer, the Browns, under the head coach, assigned many camp and preseason snaps to Gabriel. Sanders demonstrated potential early, then remained on the bench until needed.
Stefanski never disclosed the reasons for not starting Sanders for most of the season. Now, at 3-10 and eliminated from playoff contention, the coach’s position is uncertain. If the Browns’ season continues similarly, their first-round draft pick could be high. Due to a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland secured an additional pick for draft weekend.
With Sanders making progress, the scrutiny over his early-season benching has intensified, fueling persistent questions about the Browns’ direction and leadership.
